Give Me Back My Baseball Life
I haven't posted in a while. I have been back to my "other life." I have decided I want to go back to my baseball life. It was a nice world away from the other more stressful one.
I think everyone has heard about the 16 year old Long Beach girl who was shot and killed after a homecoming game on Friday. She was an innocent bystander who was hit by a stray bullet when someone opened fire into the crowd of young people The homecoming game was just over. It was 10 PM on Friday evening. This was the first evening game that she had been allowed to go to. Here was a beautiful young smart Cambodian girl who had everything to live for. Her parents had survived the Killing Fields of Cambodia.
This hit close to home. Wilson High School is not far from my home. My 13 year old niece had just left the game a few minutes before, picked up by my sister. We all were horrified that Brynne was probably standing in that spot where that girl was killed. Wilson High School is in a nice neighborhood bordered by Belmont Heights and East Long Beach. My son graduated from there as well. He was part of Junior ROTC who used to take care of the parking during school events. He also was on the varsity football team when he was a senior.
Prayers for her family and for all the friends that she had made in her short life. Wilson High School is in mourning for a life taken too soon. We all are asking why did this happen?
In the last few weeks two friends of mine from work also passed away. One was a captain in the hospital police section at my place of employment. I had known him many years. He was found at home after missing work. I really miss him. Another friend was part of the housekeeping department at my job. He always had a big smile for me as he cleaned the laboratory. I heard that they had discovered a liver tumor. He was told that he had only 6 months to live.
So much going on. So much sadness.
There is some happiness though. I plan on visiting my son in Virginia in a couple of weeks. He thought he would remind me that it was no longer baseball season so maybe I could visit him?
The World Series is definitely exciting. It has stretched out into at least 6 games. I realized that Chase Utley went to my high school, Long Beach Polytechnic. He was never the best player, always overshadowed by Milton Bradly. He was always known as a hard worker. Now look at him!!!
I usually don't follow the World Series but this year I have tried to. It definitely makes the season VERY LONG. Spring Training is just around the corner.
I know everyone has heard about the Dodger owner Frank McCourt's divorce from his wife Jamie. I hope it doesn't hurt the Dodgers. I knew from an inside source that Jamie was having an affair with her bodyguard. What is going on??? I have already decided that we will probably have to forget getting another pitcher. We will still have our young core: Andre Ethier, Russell Martin, James Loney and Matty Kemp. We still have Broxton and Billingsley. We still have Manny. I hope we can keep Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla. What else can I hope for?? The divorce will be ugly and will affect the offseason.
I hope everyone is faring well in the offseason. Please keep in touch.
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Cat, so sorry to hear about the shooting as well as the passings of those you cared about. Baseball is such an escape from "real life," and it allows us to dull the pain of death and health problems and ugly divorces, etc. Glad you're going to visit your son. That should lift your spirits. And, as you say, spring training is just around the corner. Once the holidays are over, it's pitchers and catchers!
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Cat, very sorry to hear about the Homecoming incident. Sadly, this is an area I am all too familiar with : (
That's a neat connection with Chase Utley : ) Isn't it funny how the hard working ones come out on top in so many facets of life??
Buz -
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Cat,
I do not know what goes on in the minds of teenangers anymore.
I know I once had that mentality, but we used our fists or just words not a piece of lead that could end someone life.
But times are always changing.
I do feel for the people locally and all around the country that have violent acts thrust upon them for no reason, or for petty actions/comments.
Bullets do not always contain lead. Some contain words and accusations that destroy just as much as cocking the hammer back on a 9 mm.
Prayers got out to victims, but the real losers in all of this sometimes is the innocent victim in thew rong place, at the wrong time.
Rays Renegade
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Some times are like that Cat. Sorry to learn of your losses and the loss at the homecoming game.
Did you know Chase Utley was first drafted by the Dodgers but did't sign. In a sunsequent draft he was taken by the Phillies.
Enjoy your visit to Virginia. Sounds as if you can use some time away.
This could be a difficult off season with the McCourt battle and maybe not so many dollars available.
GO DODGERS!!
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Cat, you are right about Chase. He is Everday's Hitter! Hope he does it again tonight so that you and I can at least enjoy this great game for one more day... : )
Buz - http://buzblog.mlblogs.com/
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That is right about Chase & the Dodgers...he turned it down to go to college. 3 year later, off to the Phillies :O) He is so awesome...and a really nice guy too. I am jealous you went to his HS...LOL That is so cool!
Jenn
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Cat - it is scary these days being the parent of a teen. Even when they are behaving themselves such tragic things can happen. I am sorry about your co-workers. It seems like some times there is just so much tragedy in the world. And that is where baseball can give us such a great break from our everyday lives. Have a great time visiting your son - it sounds like he misses mom!
Julia
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Cat: Being a teen and hearing such stories makes them even more tragic for me. I'm so sorry to hear about all the sadness you have dealt with recently. I've been dealing with the offseason for about....2? 3 days now? And I hate it. Cat, this was a long season for my Yanks, the longest in years, and I'm still not satisfied. I just want them 24/7. I hope time flies a bit faster, but not too fast. Yes, we should definitely stay in touch :)
-Virginia
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Stories of that nature are always tragic no matter where or who they involve....
The divorce I think will be interesting, especially if he gets the infield and she gets the outfield... she make for an interesting off season and spring training for the Dodger fans...maybe a new TV series too...
~peter
Outside the Phillies Looking In
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Cat - I'm sorry to hear about all the recent losses, both in your neighborhood and in your workplace. Visiting your son will be a cheerful respite! Once the holiday season is upon us (and it always sneaks up on me before I'm ready!), it's not much longer until Spring Training! Hang in there!
Sue
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Sorry to hear about the loses near you. Prayers go out to those families. Sixteen is very young age to die. And I hope that her family can move on and keep her spirit alived.
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Hope you have fun visiting your son. And don't worry the Blues never go away.
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And miss my Dodger Blues too! But congratulations to both Hudson and Kemp for thier golden gloves and I hope Ethier gets his well deserve Silver Slugger Award. He sure deserves to be the Teams MVP!
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Rosie
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Intense moment and so tragic. My heart goes out to the family of the victim and all who were close to the girl. Friends, family, classmates-it's never fair.
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Hi Cat! I know what you mean about being in your "other life". It's totally been amazing being back in the west coast but then again, it would be much better with baseball going on! It feels weird for sure. Anyway, I'm sorry about the recent losses around you but I sure hope you'll have an amazing time visiting your son! Pictures please :) xoxo http://diamondgirl55.mlblogs.com
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Cat, I am so sorry to hear about the shooting at your school. It's difficult to comprehend the changes of what it was like when... well, even when I was in school until now. Being from Colorado, the Columbine shooting was huge, and it seemed so... I don't want to say "out of the ordinary" but... extreme. Slowly it's something that we all have to be more afraid of because the possibility of it happening is becoming more and more real. I'm very ready for baseball to come back, it's a different life, a happier time.
Emily
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